In 2014, the standard of play at its best has reached a new level, higher than in the four previous ICs. At the same time, mirroring the AFL game (that is footy at the top level) at its worst it has degenerated into scrambleball as a flood of players converges on the ball, and plays the game in 40% of the ground.

As in the AFL, blame the coaches, the poachers who have created the contemporary stoppage game, even if as in the best IC games and for periods in the best AFL games, it is still a running, skilful spectacular game.

The USA Revolution has had a good run so far in the International Cup. On a win/loss ratio, their 3 wins from four starts has been a solid return. Jeff Talmadge is a part of the squad, and has shared some of his insights with us.

“I started playing footy in April 2013 so close to a year and a half. It’s been quite an adventure in such a short period of time. I was encouraged to come and check out the club in my home town, Austin, Texas, by an Aussie friend of mine from Adelaide. After my first game, I was absolutely hooked.”

This women’s match between the US and Fiji followed on from the men’s match the previous afternoon where the two countries clashed in what turned out to be very heated.

Fortunately while this match saw plenty of physical clashes, but things never looked like escalating to anything more than "in the contest" aggression.

Andrea Casillas for the USA kicked the first goal of the match in the first few minutes. From here Fiji managed to lock down the ball around the ground with the Fiji captain Siteri Tadrau playing well on the defensive side of the many packs that formed. Matanisigadrau and Tuilevuka good for Fiji. The US added a second goal late in the quarter and Kastenak could have added a third but her kick went wide after a good leading mark.

The highlight of the quarter for me was US onballer Blatnick’s blind turn around a Fiji defender and then spotting up the CHF with a crisp pass. Fiji managed just the one behind for the quarter and the US lead by two goals at quarter time.

Laure kicked the USA Liberty's first goal of the tournament on Saturday afternoon against the Irish Banshees at Plenty in outer northern Melbourne. Marking in front within the last minute of play - she went back and slotted the goal despite half a dozen opponents trying to put her off.

With the completion of Women's Round 5 the schedule for the playoff matches on Friday have been updated to include the Women's games.

The Men's Grand Final Ireland versus Papua New Guinea will take place at 4.50pm at the MCG on Saturday (prior to Geelong vs Hawthorn), following on from the Women's Grand Final played at Punt Road from 2:10pm, Canada Northern Lights versus Ireland.